88086 Federal Register / Vol. 88, No. 243 / Wednesday, December 20, 2023 / Notices 

Sherrette A. Funn, 

Paperwork Reduction Act Reports Clearance 

Officer, Office of the Secretary. 

[FR Doc. 2023–27974 Filed 12–19–23; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 4150–49–P 

DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND 

HUMAN SERVICES 

[Document Identifier: OS–0990–0421] 

Agency Information Collection 

Request; 30-Day Public Comment 

Request 

AGENCY: Office of the Secretary, HHS. 

ACTION: Notice. 

SUMMARY: In compliance with the 

requirement of the Paperwork 

Reduction Act of 1995, the Office of the 

Secretary (OS), Department of Health 

and Human Services, is publishing the 

following summary of a proposed 

collection for public comment. 

DATES: Comments on the ICR must be 

received on or before January 19, 2024. 

ADDRESSES: Written comments and 

recommendations for the proposed 

information collection should be sent 

within 30 days of publication of this 

notice to www.reginfo.gov/public/do/ 

PRAMain. Find this particular 

information collection by selecting 

‘‘Currently under 30-day Review—Open 

for Public Comments’’ or by using the 

search function. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: 

Sherrette Funn, Sherrette.Funn@hhs.gov 

or (202) 264–0041, or PRA@HHS.GOV. 

When submitting comments or 

requesting information, please include 

the document identifier 0990–New–30D 

and project title for reference. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Interested 

persons are invited to send comments 

regarding this burden estimate or any 

other aspect of this collection of 

information, including any of the 

following subjects: (1) The necessity and 

utility of the proposed information 

collection for the proper performance of 

the agency’s functions; (2) the accuracy 

of the estimated burden; (3) ways to 

enhance the quality, utility, and clarity 

of the information to be collected; and 

(4) the use of automated collection 

techniques or other forms of information 

technology to minimize the information 

collection burden. 

Title of the Collection: ASPE Generic 

Clearance for the Collection of 

Qualitative Research and Assessment. 

Type of Collection: (Revision). 

OMB No. 0990–0421—Office of the 

Assistant Secretary for Planning and 

Evaluation (ASPE). 

Abstract: The Office of the Assistant 

Secretary for Planning and Evaluation 

(ASPE) is requesting a three-year 

renewal with change for their generic 

clearance for purposes of conducting 

qualitative research. The ICR is for an 

extension of the approved information 

collection assigned OMB control 

number 0990–0421, scheduled to expire 

on January 31, 2024. ASPE conducts 

qualitative research to gain a better 

understanding of emerging health and 

human services policy issues, develop 

future intramural and extramural 

research projects, and to ensure HHS 

leadership, agencies and offices have 

recent data and information to inform 

program and policy decision-making. 

ASPE is requesting approval for at least 

four types of qualitative research which 

include, but are not limited to, (a) 

interviews, (b) focus groups, (c) 

questionnaires, and (d) other qualitative 

methods. 

ASPE advises the Secretary of the 

Department of Health and Human 

Services on policy development in 

health, disability, human services, data, 

and science, and provides advice and 

analysis on economic policy. ASPE 

leads special initiatives, coordinates 

many of the Department’s evaluation, 

research and demonstration activities, 

and manages cross-Department planning 

activities such as implementation of the 

Evidence Act, strategic planning, 

legislative planning, and review of 

regulations. Integral to this role, ASPE 

will use this mechanism to conduct 

qualitative research, evaluation, or 

assessment, conduct analyses, and 

understand needs, barriers, or 

facilitators for HHS-related programs 

and services. 

ASPE is requesting comment on the 

increased burden for qualitative 

research aimed at understanding 

emerging health and human services 

policy issues. The goal of developing 

these activities is to identify emerging 

issues and research gaps to ensure the 

successful implementation of HHS 

programs. The participants may include 

health and human services experts; 

national, state, and local health or 

human services representatives; public 

health, human services, or healthcare 

providers; and representatives of other 

health or human services organizations, 

and people with lived experience. 

Need and Proposed Use of the 

Information: ASPE is requesting 

comment on the burden for qualitative 

research aimed at understanding 

emerging health and human services 

policy issues. The goal of developing 

these activities is to identify emerging 

issues and research gaps to ensure the 

successful implementation of HHS 

programs. The participants may include 

health and human services experts; 

national, state, and local health or 

human services representatives; public 

health, human services, or healthcare 

providers; and representatives of other 

health or human services organizations, 

and people with lived experience. The 

increase in burden from 2,000 annually 

in 2020 to 5,000 respondents annually 

in 2023 reflects an increase in the 

number of research projects and 

information collections expected to be 

conducted over the next three years. 

ESTIMATED ANNUALIZED BURDEN TABLE

Type of respondent Number of 

respondents 

Number 

responses per 

respondent 

Average 

burden per 

response 

(in hours) 

Total burden 

hours per year 

Health or Human Services Policy Stakeholder ............................................... 5,000 1 1 5,000 

Total .......................................................................................................... 5,000 1 1 5,000 


ddrumheller on DSK120RN23PROD with NOTICES1
Federal Register / Vol. 88, No. 243 / Wednesday, December 20, 2023 / Notices 88087 

Sherrette A. Funn, 

Paperwork Reduction Act Reports Clearance 

Officer, Office of the Secretary. 

[FR Doc. 2023–27899 Filed 12–19–23; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 4150–05–P 

DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND 

HUMAN SERVICES 

Indian Health Service 

Funding Opportunity for Tribal SelfGovernance Planning Cooperative 

Agreement Program 

Announcement Type: New. 

Funding Announcement Number: 

HHS–2024–IHS–TSGP–0001. 

Assistance Listing (Catalog of Federal 

Domestic Assistance or CFDA) Number: 

93.444. 

Key Dates 

Application Deadline Date: February 

19, 2024. 

Earliest Anticipated Start Date: April 

1, 2024. 

I. Funding Opportunity Description 

Statutory Authority 

The Indian Health Service (IHS) is 

accepting applications for cooperative 

agreements for the Tribal SelfGovernance Planning Cooperative 

Agreement Program. This program is 

authorized under the Snyder Act, 25 

U.S.C. 13; the Transfer Act, 42 U.S.C. 

2001(a); and Title V of the Indian SelfDetermination and Education 

Assistance Act (ISDEAA), 25 U.S.C. 

5383(e). The Assistance Listings section 

of SAM.gov (https://same.gov/content/ 

home) describes this program under 

93.444. 

Background 

The Tribal Self-Governance Program 

(TSGP) is more than an IHS program; it 

is an expression of the Government-toGovernment relationship between the 

United States (U.S.) and Indian Tribes. 

Through the TSGP, Tribes negotiate 

with the IHS to assume Programs, 

Services, Functions, and Activities 

(PSFAs), or portions thereof, which 

gives Tribes the authority to manage and 

tailor health care programs in a manner 

that best fits the needs of their 

communities. 

Participation in the TSGP affords 

Tribes the most flexibility to tailor their 

health care needs by choosing one of 

three ways to obtain health care from 

the Federal Government for their 

citizens. Specifically, Tribes can choose 

to: (1) receive health care services 

directly from the IHS; (2) contract with 

the IHS to administer individual 

programs and services the IHS would 

otherwise provide (referred to as Title I 

Self-Determination Contracting); and (3) 

compact with the IHS to assume control 

over health care programs the IHS 

would otherwise provide (referred to as 

Title V Self-Governance Compacting or 

the TSGP). These options are not 

exclusive and Tribes may choose to 

combine options based on their 

individual needs and circumstances. 

The TSGP is a tribally-driven 

initiative and strong Federal-Tribal 

partnerships are essential to the 

program’s success. The IHS established 

the Office of Tribal Self-Governance 

(OTSG) to implement the SelfGovernance authorities under the 

ISDEAA. The primary OTSG functions 

are to: (1) serve as the primary liaison 

and advocate for Tribes participating in 

the TSGP; (2) develop, direct, and 

implement TSGP policies and 

procedures; (3) provide information and 

technical assistance to Self-Governance 

Tribes; and (4) advise the IHS Director 

on compliance with TSGP policies, 

regulations, and guidelines. Each IHS 

Area has an Agency Lead Negotiator 

(ALN), designated by the IHS Director to 

act on his or her behalf, who has 

authority to negotiate Self-Governance 

Compacts and Funding Agreements. 

Tribes interested in participating in the 

TSGP should contact their respective 

ALN to begin the Self-Governance 

planning and negotiation process. 

Tribes currently participating in the 

TSGP that are interested in expanding 

existing or adding new PSFAs should 

also contact their respective ALN to 

discuss the best methods for expanding 

or adding new PSFAs. 

Purpose 

The purpose of this Planning 

Cooperative Agreement is to provide 

resources to Tribes interested in 

entering the TSGP and to existing SelfGovernance Tribes interested in 

assuming new or expanded PSFAs. Title 

V of the ISDEAA requires a Tribe or 

Tribal organization (T/TO) to complete 

a planning phase to the satisfaction of 

the Tribe. The planning phase must 

include legal and budgetary research 

and internal Tribal government 

planning and organizational preparation 

relating to the administration of health 

care programs. See 25 U.S.C. 5383(d). 

The planning phase is critical to 

negotiations and helps Tribes make 

informed decisions about which PSFAs 

to assume and what organizational 

changes or modifications are necessary 

to successfully support those PSFAs. A 

thorough planning phase improves 

timeliness and efficient negotiations and 

ensures that the Tribe is fully prepared 

to assume the transfer of IHS PSFAs to 

the Tribal health program. 

A Planning Cooperative Agreement is 

not a prerequisite to enter the TSGP and 

a Tribe may use other resources to meet 

the planning requirement. Tribes that 

receive Planning Cooperative 

Agreements are not obligated to 

participate in the TSGP and may choose 

to delay or decline participation based 

on the outcome of their planning 

activities. This also applies to existing 

Self-Governance Tribes exploring the 

option to expand their current PSFAs or 

assume additional PSFAs. 

II. Award Information 

Funding Instrument—Cooperative 

Agreement 

Estimated Funds Available 

The total funding identified for fiscal 

year (FY) 2024 is approximately 

$900,000. Individual award amounts are 

anticipated to be $180,000. The funding 

available for competing awards issued 

under this announcement is subject to 

the availability of appropriations and 

budgetary priorities of the Agency. The 

IHS is under no obligation to make 

awards that are selected for funding 

under this announcement. 

Anticipated Number of Awards 

The IHS anticipates issuing 

approximately five awards under this 

program announcement. 

Period of Performance 

The period of performance is for 1 

year. 

Cooperative Agreement 

Cooperative agreements awarded by 

the Department of Health and Human 

Services (HHS) are administered under 

the same policies as grants. However, 

the funding agency, IHS, is anticipated 

to have substantial programmatic 

involvement in the project during the 

entire period of performance. Below is 

a detailed description of the level of 

involvement required of the IHS. 

Substantial Agency Involvement 

Description for Cooperative Agreement 

A. Provide descriptions of PSFAs and 

associated funding at all organizational 

levels (service unit, area, and 

headquarters) including funding 

formulas and methodologies related to 

determining Tribal shares. 

B. Meet with Planning Cooperative 

Agreement recipients to provide 

program information and discuss 

methods currently used to manage and 

deliver health care. 

C. Identify and provide statutes, 

regulations, and policies that provide 


ddrumheller on DSK120RN23PROD with NOTICES1